Head lamp



T. G. MELISH Nov. 20, 1934.

HEAD LAMP Filed Nov. 22, 1933 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS illumination in front of the car.

Patented Nov. 2.0, 1934 p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in headlamps, particularly for automobiles and primarily to the control of direction in which the light beam is reflected.

An object of the invention is to provide the reflector of a headlamp with a lamp bulb mounting, shiftable to a position laterally of the normal focal axis of the reflector for bringing the filament or filaments of the bulb selectively to 'a position for a control of 'the direction of reflection of the light beam as predominantly in an angular direction up or down or sideways relative to a normal setting for ready straight ahead illumination.

Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a central horizontal section through the rear portion of the headlamp with the use of a double lament lamp bulb and the lamp bulb set with the laments disposed relatively above and below a horizontal line through the focal axis of the reflector.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3, Figure l.

It is a recognized practice for automobile headlamps to employ double filament electric light bulbs with the circuit control therefor either separate or joint and for one type of service a double filament lamp bulb with the filament of approximately the same watt rating disposed in a relatively parallel relation equi-distant at the opposite sides of the axis of the bulb is provided. This type of lamp when equipped with a standard bayonet base and mounted within the lamp socket of a headlamp normally positions the filaments horizontally at relatively opposite sides, upper and lower, of the focal axis of the reflector of the headlamp.

With an electric circuit control for each filament when the upper filament is energized the rays of light will be reiiected downwardly to below level of vision of the occupants of an approaching car and at the same time increase the Alternately when the lower filament is only energized the rays of light will be reflected upwardly.

Correspondingly with the parabolic type of reector used in most automobile headlamps, an adjustment of the lamp bulb to bring the filaments to either the right or left side of the focal axis of the reector, the direction of light beam reector can be moved either to the right or left of the highway correspondingly as for the up and down angular direction of reection.

The present invention contemplates the use of either a single or double filament electric light bulb with the lamp mounting or socket shiftable` for a sideways direction of light beam reflection, I particularly to the right directions, although the mechanism can be readily adapted for a plural control as for central, right or left. An adjustment for a left side light beam reflection is ofy little service in this country where the straight ahead travel is delegated to the right side of the road andto the left only in passing another vehicle `or`other obstruction in the road for the right side direction.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the rear portion of a headlamp casing, 2 a reflector therein of a parabolic type as commonly used for automobile headlamps. Both casing and reflector are relatively rigid and the reflector centrally thereof at its axis is provided with an oblong slot or opening 3 through which the lamp socket 4 of the lamp bulb mounting extends. The lamp socket is of conventional bayonet lock type for receiving in the one end the base 5,0f lamp bulb Gand in its opposite end a circuit connecting plug 7, the socket carrying the usual circuit leads for either a double or single contact lamp bulb.

The lamp socket 4 is slidably engaged through a hub 8 of a horizontally reciprocated mounting or carrier 9. The carrier 9 at its opposite ends is slidably mounted respectively within brackets 10, 11, xed to the inside of the headlamp casing 1. The socket is provided with a laterally extended arm or lug 13 engaged by a screw 12 mounted upon the carrier 9, providing means for longitudinally adjusting the socket upon the carrier for making the ordinary focal adjustment of the `lamp bulb relative to the reflector. f A spring 14 is engaged about the adjusting screw 13 abuttingly between the carrier 9 and lug 12.

One of the carrier brackets, say 11, carries a set-screw 15 for engagement with a lug 16 laterally extending from the carrier for limiting the reciprocating stroke of the carrier and in the present instance for definitely bringing the light bulb to its normal central position with respect to the reflector for straight illumination or with the use of a double filament lamp bulb with the filaments in position when each has its own control circuit for respective selective upward or downward of light beam reflection.

A spring 1'7 having one end fixed to the lug 16 of the carrier and its opposite end to the inner end of a set-screw 18 mounted upon the bracket 10 provides means for automatically returning the lamp.

the lamp mounting'or carrier to its normal position against the stop screw 15.

The carrier is shifted or reciprocated in one stroke direction and in the present instance to the left for an angular light beam reflection to the right by an electro-magnet 19 xed upon the bracket l1 with the circuit to the magnet remotely controlled and the magnet cooperates with an armature 20 fixed upon and laterally extends from the carrier for actuating the carrier or drawing it in a direction toward the magnet to shift the lamp filaments to one side of the normal focal axis of the reeotor, the spring returning the carrier to its normal position against the stop screw 17 when the magnet is deenergized.

As the electric circuits and control have a double filament lamp as now generally employed, a circuit diagram thereof need not necessarily be illustrated or described herein, mainly constituting two wires or Vleads connecting with the lamp socket from the switches, the filaments of the lamp each having a pole connecting with a respective contact or terminal in the lamp base and the opposite pole of the filaments connecting in common to ground with the base shell of To Vproduce the particular angular direction of light reflection, it is understood that a popular design of head lamp reflector is employed and the focusing or head setting of the lamp bulb appropriately made in relation to the reflector.-

Thus, in an instant, as herein illustrated, Vby

closing the circuit with the lamp bulb in its normal position to the upper filament the light beam can be reflected in an angular direction downwardly or, reversely, energizing the lower filament the light beam can be reflected in an upward angular direction. For sidewise direction of angular light beam reflection, the magnet 19 is energized, drawing the lamp mounting or carrier in an appropriate direction sidewise to offset the filaments relative to the normal focal axis S5 of the reflector, and this can be accomplished without breaking the circuit or circuits to either or both of the laments energized at the time of making the shift or sidewise transfer of the lamp mounting, thereby avoiding any break in the light beam while the transfer is being made.

Having described my invention, I claim:

In an electric head lamp, a reflector, a pair of brackets mounted in rear of the reflector relatively at opposite sides of the focal axis of the reflector, a lamp socket holder slidably mounted in said brackets for lateral horizontal' reciproca.- tion therein, a spring urging the holder in one direction of movement, a lamp bulb. socket longitudinally adjustably mountedA in said holder, acl'- 15,0 just-able means for limiting the reciprocating stroke ci said holder for normally positioning the socket at the focal axis of the refiector, and power means remotely controlled'for reciprocatsaid holder to position the socket in a lateral 3 3; offset relation to the focal axis of the reflector.

THOMAS G. MELrs'H.

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